Chapter — Konings, Theologia Moralis
CHAPTER III: ON CHARITY
¶275.
- Charity is the virtue by which we love God as the highest good on account of Himself, and the neighbor on account of God. - Charity is the most excellent of all virtues, because it attains God in the most perfect mode. Hence:1 "Now there remain Faith, Hope, Charity, these three; but the greatest of these is Charity."
The formal object of Charity is the divine goodness. But the primary material object is God, the secondary material object is ourselves and the neighbor.1
There is distinguished: 1° love of God supremely intensive or appreciative; 2° love of benevolence, which regards the proper good of the beloved; love of friendship, which is mutual love of benevolence; and love of concupiscence, which primarily intends the proper good of the one loving.
The discussion must be: 1° on love of God; 2° on love of the neighbor.
Notes to n. 275. (1) 1 Cor. 13, 13.